It’s really exasperating to see fuel prices skyrocketing, right? We can only feel helpless in the face of recurring and economy-driven price fluctuations. Seeking measures to improve fuel economy is the only way to combat rising fuel prices. Do not disregard these simple guidelines; each little step can really start adding up to significant savings to your budget.

Check Tyre Pressure

Keeping the tyres well inflated is one of the simplest things you can do to help improve your car’s fuel efficiency. You can improve the mileage by about 3.3 percent if you keep your tyres inflated properly, according to the DOE.

Lighten Your Load

Empty out your boot of unnecessary items. For every extra 45 kg you carry, your fuel efficiency can drop by 1-2% in a typical vehicle.

S-L-O-W D-O-W-N

The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Driving within the speed limit recommended by the manufacturer helps save fuel. Driving just 5mph over the speed limit can affect fuel economy by up to 23%. Likewise, quick acceleration consumes too much fuel; accelerate slowly and gradually.

Do Fuel Quality/Types/Additives Help Mileage?

Petrol pump attendants often try to convince you to go for ‘Speed petrol’ or ‘X-tra Mile diesel’. But this need not necessarily help improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Always use the grade recommended for the vehicle by the manufacturer. Higher octane fuel may not only be a waste of money but may harm the vehicle, as well. However sticking to one brand of fuel is always good for the engine. Know more about Octane Ratings

Tune Your Engine

A well-tuned engine can improve fuel economy by up to 4%. So change your oil and follow your car manufacturer’s recommendation on servicing.

Clean the Air Filters Regularly

Air filters keep impurities from damaging your engine. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve fuel economy by as much as 10%.

Keep the Windows Closed

Driving with your windows open considerably reduces mileage, far more than keeping the AC on while driving along highways. So preferably keep the windows closed and the AC on if you want to keep cool. Of course the air-conditioning decreases fuel efficiency considerably, so use it judiciously. Windows down or A/C on — which is more fuel-efficient?

Clean Spark Plugs

Ensure your spark plugs are in good condition. Renew the plugs and wires at intervals specified by the manufacturer. This will keep all cylinders firing properly resulting in higher efficiency.

Don’t Be a Clutch-Driver

Never keep your foot on the clutch while driving. When you do this, pressure is being placed on your clutch, and it not only reduces mileage, but also wears out the clutch plate, replacing which is not cheap.

Keep the Car in Showroom Condition

It’s always prudent to keep the car in the showroom condition. Remember that any modification to the car, such as broad tyres, diffusers etc., will adversely affect the mileage.

(1) Chief Executive Officers: With the average annual earnings of more than 196,000 euros per annum, chief executives are the most earning of all professionals. Although it requires only a bachelor’s degree but your experience will ultimately decide the number of digits on your salary check. The openings are keenly contested because a lot qualified persons apply for these openings.

(2) Physicians and Surgeons: This is considered a very noble profession in many cultures and physicians and surgeons earn on an average more than 113,000 euros a year. It requires a bachelor’s degree in medicine and an internship period of more 3 – 7 years to earn decently. In many countries, there is often a licensing exam before a medical student can start practicing.

(3) Dentists: Dentists treat problems relating to the teeth or the mouth and their average income is about 109,000 euros per annum. There is a licensing exam after passing from a dental school.

(4) Lawyer: It normally takes a bachelor’s degree with three years at a law school to sit in a state bar examination before one can become a lawyer. The competition for openings is keen because a number of students graduate from law schools each year. Lawyers earn on an average around 103,000 euros per annum.

(5) Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers: It takes at least 250 – 1500 hours of flight experience to earn a commercial pilot’s licence. Bigger and more reputed airlines often present them with tough competition, so most of the newly-graduated opt for regional airlines. A typical airline pilot or a flight engineer earns more than 98,000 euros a year.

(6) Engineering Managers: The task of engineering managers is to supervise a team of technicians to develop new products. The average salary of engineering managers is about 92,000 euros per annum. A bachelor’s degree is required and professional experience matters a lot.

(7) Securities and commodities sales agents: There is a licensing exam to enter this profession. It takes a bachelor’s degree with an attitude towards business administration to sit in the licensing exam. A securities and commodities sales agent earns about 90,000 euros per annum.

(8) Computers and Information system managers: It takes advanced degrees in technology along with good knowledge of business to enter the field. Thorough technical knowledge is must. There are a lot of job opportunities in the field. The average salary in this field is about 86,000 euros per annum.

(9) Marketing and Sales Manager: These men are responsible for conducting market research, making market strategies and promoting their companies’ products. A master’s degree is normally preferred by reputed employers and liberal arts background is highly sought for. The average salary of a marketing and sales manager is around 81,000 euros.

(10) Optometrists: These are health care professional that treat eye and eye-related diseases. There is a license exam to be passed and one is eligible to sit for the exam after earning a bachelor’s degree and four years of study at an optometry school. The income of an optometrist on an average is 81,000 euros a year and the demand for optometrists is only going to increase in the coming years.

(1) Engineer: An engineer is defined as a professional who applies the established principles of mathematics and science to find economical solution(s) to a technical problem. It normally requires a bachelor’s degree for an entry level job; however, some research positions may require advanced degrees.

(2) Machine Operators: Also known as machinists, their function is to operate heavy machines. Employers usually take contenders with high-school diplomas and basic computer education is also helpful in getting the employment. Machine operators work on machines which produce tools, transportation equipment and other kinds of machinery.

(3) Skilled Manual Trades: There is a stigma attached to the manual trades in many societies especially in the semi-developed societies of Asia and Africa. These trades are often held in low prestige and because of this many skilled artisans have already left the trade. But the art is highly appreciated by the collectors on the European continent and it is only because of this that few surviving artisans make their living. The recent economic boom in Asia has made the demand for the skilled manual artists to shoot up but they are in short supply.

(4) Technicians: A technician can be considered as someone in between a layman and an engineer. A person who has a thorough understanding of the theoretical principles along with the practical understanding is referred to as a technician. Technicians are found in a number of fields; from medicine to art industry.

(5) Sales Representatives: There are a multitude of jobs for the right kind of people but the employers usually find it hard to locate good sales representatives. The earnings of a sales representative are susceptible to market fluctuations. There is usually no formal education specified to become a sales person but many of the employers prefer a bachelor’s degree.

(6) Accounting and Finance Staff: These people are responsible for gathering information needed to do a particular job, process data, monitor and control how the resources are used, to organise and the plan work etc. It takes at least a bachelor’s degree with emphasis on business administration and accounting or finance as subjects; although some employers prefer to hire candidates with a master’s degree. With the economies of Asian and Latin American countries growing fast, the demand for the accounting and financial staff is going to remain high in the near future.

(7) Mechanics: A mechanic is a professional, who has been trained to repair and work on mechanical equipment. Mechanics are often considered as semi-engineers because although they are educated, their educational credentials aren’t as high as that of engineers. Mechanics can earn decent money given the scarcity of good mechanics.

(8) Labourers: Labourers are people who do physical work either by hands or using simple equipment. The advent of 21st century hasn’t exactly brought along with it machines which make manual labour totally redundant. There is no specified qualification to become a labourer; in this field experience is of prime importance.

(9) IT Staff: Sometimes, it is jokingly said that the Soviet Union collapsed because of the lack of trained IT professionals who could keep up with the Americans. Although a joke, it does indicate how important a role does the IT technology play in the modern world. It is a multi billion dollar industry and it growing by leaps and bounds, which makes the requirement for the trained IT staff to shoot up and makes these kinds of jobs among the hardest to fill.

(10) Production Operators: These people are responsible for operating the machinery on the production line. The term ‘production operator’ is a generic term which encompasses a wide range of machinery and products. The qualification usually depends upon the kind of work that the employer needs.

First of all, it is necessary for anyone concerned about the connection between alcohol and extra body weight to accept the fact that alcohol intake can contribute to making us fat. It’s a fact of life that can only be eliminated by taking alcohol from our lives altogether.

alcohol-makes-you-fatIt’s possible to control the weight gain and the additional body fat with exercise and a healthy diet. But drinking alcoholic beverages will make the “battle of the bulge” more difficult. Why, you may ask?

The primary reason is that the alcoholic drinks we consume have a lot of sugar in them. This increases our overall calorie intake. In addition, sugar turns to fat more quickly than some other edible items. This quick-forming fat stays with us in the belly area, as well as on the hips and this. Some people have found that the extra fat appears on the underside of the arms as well.

Each person reacts differently to this sugar/fat connection, so the extra weight won’t always appear on the belly. It’s certainly common enough for people to believe that drinking beer and liquor give us a “beer belly.” This isn’t always true, but it happens often enough to make it an issue. One of the reasons is that the male of the human species naturally tends to add body fat in the belly area. Men who consume alcohol regularly are almost ensuring that the amount of fat on their bellies will increase. Women however gather their extra fat in and around the hips and upper thighs. So, women who consume alcohol may see extra weight in those areas.

One of the scientific facts (frustrating for drinkers) is that the sugar and calorie factor in alcohol is there even though drinking such beverages doesn’t stop us from being hungry. Therefore, any drinking we do adds sugar and calories in addition to what we get from eating. We may feel “full” for awhile after drinking but our bodies will still signal us that it is time to eat.

The key to solving this alcohol/fat problem is to drink less alcohol. Keeping the intake of alcoholic beverages to a minimum will help control that extra body fat. A general guideline states that enjoying one or two drinks during the day probably won’t create a fat problem. Drinking too much alcohol certainly will add extra fat weight to the body.

People who need to be on a restricted-calorie diet should definitely pay attention to the amount of alcohol they drink. What happens with alcohol does not happen with food that is eaten. The calories in alcohol go directly to the rest of the body because alcohol passes on to the body without being digested as food is. Since it goes immediately to the body it needs to be used up or burned by activity immediately. Otherwise it will settle into the parts of the body that are natural fat storehouses for each individual. Alcohol is an immediate energy source for the body but in a short time it becomes a source of extra fat.

People who want to lose weight can focus on a lot of different parts of the body. In recent years, trainers and celebrities have produced dozens of programs for weight loss and weight reduction. These often concentrate on the waist, the hips, the abs or some other part of the human anatomy.

Few plans look closely at the double chin, which is simply a deposit of extra fat that is unsightly and uncomfortable. Some people develop a double chin as they age because they inherited the tendency from parents and grandparents. Simply put, double chin can be hereditary. Others might see a double chin appearing gradually as they gain weight over the entire body.

Exercise, Concentrate
Of course, you might be able to reduce or eliminate that double chin by following a general weight-loss program. With proper diet and proper exercise you might be able to lose extra pounds and eliminate that heavy deposit under your chin. Information about losing a double chin often begins with the simple idea of eating a bit less, every day. Over a period of time your body will use the extra fat or eliminate it. Your double chin may well disappear along with extra weight from other places.

You can also reduce your double chin or get rid of it altogether with specific exercises for this section of the body. There is one muscle in this area that should be exercised as part of any program to lose a double chin. The muscle has the unlikely name “platysma.” If you open your mouth as widely as you can, stretch the lower lip and stretch the jaw, you may be able to tighten the chin area.

Attacking the Double Chin
Get Rid of Double ChinSome people resort to liposuction to remove a double chin. This method has been used for years. Doctors simple suck the fat from under the skin. However, this method is not completely free of problems. In addition, you might pay a lot of money to have fat taken from under the chin and then see the same condition develop in a matter of months. If you don’t change your eating and exercising habits the “fix” will be temporary. If medical procedures are on list of options, talk with your doctor about a chin-wrap process.

You may be better off using some of the suggested exercises for sagging facial muscles. A combination of diet, physical exercise, chin-and-jaw exercises and gentle massage can go a long way toward eliminating the double chin. Put some pressure on the muscles of the chin and massage them a few times each day. Change your hand position occasionally to get the maximum effect.

It is tempting to just say: Get rid of overeating by eating less. For some of us this may be possible. For others, eating less may be the most difficult thing they ever do. In the past, people who ate a lot and became obese were thought to be gluttons. But most of the time they weren’t looked upon as people with a serious problem.

In recent years, overeating has joined a few other maladies as serious issues. The list includes anorexia and bulimia. These are eating disorders, yes, but they are now considered behavioral /psychological disorders. Eating far too much or far too little may well be a symptom of other issues that should be addressed.

The Factors
The ingredients in the mix that is overeating include triggers from the brain, chemistry within the body, emotional problems and issues with social contacts. If some or all of these work in combination we may overeat as a way to compensate or self-medicate.

OvereatingWe can get rid of some instances of overeating by changing our habits. For example, some people feel that they must eat a snack at certain times. If we can change our habit so that, when this time arrives, we focus on something other than food we gradually turn to the new activity. Overeating is often triggered by starting with sugar-filled pastries or similar foods. If we can avoid sweets and foods that are high in carbohydrates we might be able to eliminate some or all of our overeating episodes.

If you normally take lunch or snacks to work with you, start substituting different types of food immediately. Rather than taking candy bars, pastries and other sweets, eliminate the dessert item. Take fruit instead. This will help curb the urge to eat more and more.

Treatment Needed
Though we can go a long way toward eliminating some of the overeating issues we face, there are times when the emotional and mental situation is so deeply ingrained we need help. First of all we have to address the emotional factors. Changing our daily habits is just one small part of this. In addition to having our meals in one place every day and substituting vegetables and fruit for sweets and snacks, we also need to eat more slowly, so that the activity of eating is not so compulsive. Instead, it satisfies a real need for fuel.

We should also eliminate the types of food that contribute to overeating. For instance, we could no longer keep chips, candy, cookies etc. in the home. We need to get rid of the things that tempt us. When the time comes for a “snack” we substitute other, healthier foods in small portions or have no snack at all.

To get rid of overeating, we may need to set small objectives or goals. Eat one less snack food each day and increase this gradually. We may need to change our shopping habits. Go the grocery store right after a regular meal. Shop when you are not hungry. Finally, find others who are struggling with the same problem and join a support group.

There are good diet plans and exercise programs for getting rid of extra weight, no matter where it is on the body. We all know about using nutrition and aerobic exercise to get rid of fat around the midsection or on the hips. But what about losing that extra, unsightly fat around the neck and in that general area?

Don’t think this is going to be easy or quick. Neck fat may be a “smaller” problem but it may still contribute to health problems and to embarrassment or insecurity when we go out in public. You’ll have to start a good fat-loss program and stick with it, just as you would any other weight-loss or lifestyle plan. *Before we look at some tips and techniques, you may want to talk with your doctor about neck fat to make sure your extra fat in that area is not the result of an illness or other health condition.

Set Your Mind
As with any weight-loss program or change in lifestyle or habits, you should set your mind on your goal. Be patient and be a bit stubborn. Make sure you believe you can achieve what you want. Give the fat-loss plan some time every day and set a realistic goal for loss each week, month etc.

Neck FatStart exercising. This doesn’t mean just walking slowly from one end of the house to another. You need to get the heart working and get the blood circulating. This is the way to burn the calories you take in with your food and drink. There are a number of different programs designed for “cardio” workouts. Talk with friends and family members, your doctor or an exercise/workout professional to find the right one for you.

It’s the Neck!
Focus on neck movements, such as gently tilting the neck from side to side and from front to back. Do this for a few minutes two or three times each day. Be sure to continue this easy exercise even after you start to see neck fat disappearing. Add neck rotation but do it gently and slowly. Move your head and neck in small circles and widen the circular movement gradually. Do it again with rotations in the opposite direction. Do this at two or three different times each day, for a couple of minutes.

In addition to neck exercises and cardio exercises, make a few changes in your diet. Add fruits and vegetables, and plenty of water. Drink fruit juices that are unsweetened rather than alcoholic beverages or soft drinks. Cut down on pastries and foods high in sugar. This should help you lose body fat in other places as well.

Finally, exercise your jaw and chin with sugarless gum or mimic chewing several times a day. This should help tighten skin around the neck and jaw. Drink plenty of water to help wash away the toxins in your body. Losing neck fat requires patience and focus, just like any other weight loss program.

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado made its appearance on the Indian roads in 2005. The Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) offers unmatched comfort. The all-terrain automobile is an absolute powerhouse that can go to any extreme. Land Cruiser Prado truly rules the road and is a real head-turner. A never-felt-before degree of enthrallment is guaranteed by the SUV. It reduces all the efforts usually taken to control a vehicle on gushing streams and rushing traffic. Land Cruiser Prado, in fact, acquires full control over the situation, once it is sets on trail.

Engine
Under the hood of Toyota Land Cruiser lies a powerful DOHC VVT-i, 24-valve engine that churns out a mind-blowing power of 235 PS @ 5200rpm and torque of 362Nm @ 3800rpm. Prado’s all time Four Wheel Drive (4WD) offers power packed performance on all road conditions.

Design And Comfort
The stunning looks of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado set the pulse racing! Its frontage, with dynamic headlamps and muscular front grille, contributes to its captivating appearance. In the rear is the tail lamps cluster, which further accentuates the exteriors. The cabin of the SUV is tactfully designed to offer an unmatched level of comfort to the passengers. The cushioned seats of Land Cruiser Prado, equipped with good under-thigh support, are extremely relaxing. Its dual-zone air conditioner ensures that the occupants enjoy a cool ride in the car, allowing them to maintain their preferred cabin temperature. The SUV promises a comfortable ride to as many as eight occupants.

Interiors
The breath-taking interiors of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado are crafted with finest materials, for exceptional comfort. The steering wheel has been given a beautiful finishing touch, with audio controls mounted on it. With the latest model of audio system – 6 CD-changer with ASL (Auto Sound Leveliser), Land Cruiser Prado assures a pleasant and fun ride. Small storage areas are cleverly positioned within the cabin of the SUV.

Ride And Handling
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is equipped with a unique Torsen LSD (Limited Slip Differential) which distributes appropriate power between the front and rear wheel, according to the driving conditions. This provides excellent riding stability, control and traction, especially at increasing speeds. The five-speed automatic transmission offers smooth shifting, for excellent performance and good fuel efficiency. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado seems to be massive, but is lightweight. It offers a smooth navigation through roads and is surprisingly silent.

Safety
Advanced safety features make Toyota Land Cruiser Prado safe and comfortable even in the extreme conditions. Front and rear crumple zones of the cabin absorb impact energy in the event of collisions. Apart from this, the SUV is equipped with dual front SRS airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Toyota Electronic Modulated Suspension (TEMS). Optimum distribution of braking force is provided by Electronic Brake Force Distribution.